Asahel fell down and died stood still.
10:002:024 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
10:002:025 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
10:002:026 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
10:002:027 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
10:002:028 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
10:002:029 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
10:002:030 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
10:002:031 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
10:002:032 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
10:003:001 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
10:003:002 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
10:003:003 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
10:003:004 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
10:003:005 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
10:003:006 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
10:003:007 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
10:003:008 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
10:003:009 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10:003:010 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
10:003:011 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
10:003:012 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
10:003:013 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
10:003:014 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
10:003:015 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
10:003:016 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
10:003:017 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
10:003:018 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
10:003:019 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
10:003:020 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
10:003:021 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
10:003:022 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
10:003:023 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
10:003:024 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
10:003:025 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
10:003:026 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
10:003:027 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
10:003:028 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
10:003:029 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
10:003:030 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
10:003:031 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
10:003:032 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
10:003:033 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
10:003:034 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
10:003:035 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
10:003:036 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
10:003:037 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
10:003:038 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
10:003:039 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
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